Scudetto hangs in the balance

AC Milan's clash with Juventus at the San Siro tomorrow could finally separate the only two runners in this season's Italian title race and go a long way to deciding the destination of the Scudetto.

With three rounds to play after Sunday's game there remains scope for a few late surprises but the two clubs have been locked together at the top of Serie A for so long that a victory for one is likely to prove decisive.

Champions Milan and Juventus are tied on 76 points from 34 matches and third-placed Inter Milan lie a distant third on 62 points.

While they have been equals on the pitch, the two teams approach the match with very different mindsets.

Milan are confident after reaching the final of the Champions League. Italian champions 27 times, Juventus appear under siege having banned their players from talking to the press. That is partly in response to the controversy surrounding Fabio Cannavaro, who was shown on Italian television using a drip which his lawyer said contained a substance not banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency.

It is also partly in protest at the Italian league's refusal to reduce the three-match ban on Zlatan Ibrahimovic, which will keep the striker out of Sunday's game.

In his absence Juve coach Fabio Capello is expected to field a strike partnership of David Trezeguet and Alessandro Del Piero. The pair scored 81 goals to lead Juve to back-to-back titles in 2002 and 2003. Injuries have limited them to just five appearances together this season, from which they mustered only one goal from open play.

Milan are at full strength with European Footballer of the Year Andriy Shevchenko and Hernan Crespo likely to spearhead their attack.

A draw would turn the last three rounds into the football equivalent of Russian roulette and would probably favour Juve.